Pelvic exenteration without external urinary or fecal diversion in gynecological cancer patients

In 1993, the authors introduced an orthotopic bladder replacement technique in the treatment of gynecological cancer patients. In this series, they report their long-term experience with orthotopic urinary reconstruction in case of primary- and radiotherapy-treated recurrent gynecological malignancies. Between 1993 and 2003, in 29 patients orthotopic ileocecal ascending colon reservoirs (Budapest pouch) were created. Twenty-one of the 29 patients received radiotherapy prior to their operation. In 12 out of these 29 cases, the fecal stream was reconstructed with the use of low rectal anastomosis. Two patients (6.9%) died in the perioperative period. Orthotopic reconstruction of the lower urinary system was successful in 77% of the cases. Success rate was 68% in the irradiated cohort of patients. All orthotopic bladder replacement patients voided voluntarily at the time of their follow-up, without the need of self-catheterization, and 23.5% of them complained of some degree of daytime incontinence and 47% of nighttime incontinence. Low rectal anastomosis reconstruction of the fecal stream was successful in all but one case. Our present experience demonstrated that anterior and total supralevator pelvic exenteration in patients with gynecological malignancies is feasible with orthotopic reconstruction of the lower urinary tract.